If you are shopping for fine jewelry, gold is a great choice.
In addition to its stunning appearance, gold is a durable metal that has the potential to be passed down from generation to generation if properly cared for.
If you have never purchased gold jewelry before, you may have questions before purchasing, as shown below.
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Check out these four questions and the revealing answers.
An important step in purchasing authentic gold jewelry is to ensure that you purchase from a reputable jeweler. (iStock)
- What are the different colors of gold jewelry?
- What is a carat?
- What karat gold is best for everyday use?
- What is the best way to care for gold jewelry?
1. What are the different colors of gold jewelry?
Gold jewelry comes in three main colors: yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold.
While gold always starts as yellow gold, it is often alloyed with other metals to create other colors, such as white gold and rose gold, while also making the jewelry more durable.
“There are actually a lot of different alloys that can be added. Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of different shades of gold come on the market,” Amanda Gizzi, director of public relations and events for Jewelers of America in New York City, told Fox Digital News in a phone interview.
“The main things people see in jewelry stores are gold, white gold and what we call rose gold. Those will be your three main options.”
When it comes to engagement rings, the popular color right now is gold, although Gizzi says platinum and white gold are starting to gain popularity.
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“We’re starting to see a bit of what’s called a cooling effect, and we’re seeing platinum and platinum starting to come back, especially in the mainstream market,” Gizzi said.
Gold jewelry mainly comes in yellow, white and rose colors. (iStock)
2. What is a carat?
A carat is a unit of measurement used to indicate the purity of gold alloys. The higher the carat, the more pure gold there is in the piece.
Here are the percentages of pure gold in various gold alloys, according to the Jewelers Association of America.
- 10K – 41.7%
- 14K – 58.3%
- 18K – 75.0%
- 24K – 99.99%
Generally speaking, pure gold (24K) is not durable enough for jewelry, but combining gold with other metals can increase its strength.
When purchasing gold jewelry, the carat number of the jewelry should be clearly marked.
“Gold sold and made in the United States always has to be hallmarked, so if it’s hallmarked as 10-karat gold, it has to come with a seal that says who made the piece of jewelry so they can back up that karat number,” Geez explained.
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Gizzi says the main differences you’ll notice between different carat levels of jewelry are the color, strength and durability of the jewelry.
3. Which karat gold is best for everyday use?
The best gold for everyday use is 14K, while 18K is often used for more specialty jewelry.
“Pure gold is going to be softer than 14-karat gold, so people tend to see 14-karat gold in a lot of fine jewelry that they wear every day,” Gizzi shared. 18 karat, on the other hand, is generally reserved for more specialized, less wear-and-tear jewelry because of its lower durability.
4. What is the best way to care for gold jewelry?
The first thing to do before buying gold jewelry is to make sure you are buying from a reputable jeweler.
Shopping with a reputable jeweler will ensure that all your questions are answered correctly and that the gold is authentic.
To clean gold jewelry, a bowl of warm soapy water will do. (iStock)
You can also return to your jeweler to have your jewelry inspected and cleaned, which Gizzi recommends doing annually.
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In addition to visiting your jeweler for an annual checkup, there are some things you can do at home to keep your jewelry in perfect condition.
“You can definitely take care of your gold jewelry at home using a simple solution of warm water and dish soap (such as Dawn),” Gizzi says, adding that a few drops in a bowl of warm water will do the trick.
“Let it soak for a few minutes, then use a very soft toothbrush to brush away any debris.”
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Don’t forget to turn off the drain when you rinse the ring in water, notes Gizzi.
After rinsing off the ring, pat it dry with a lint-free towel.
